Anisette proves `the goods' in Del Mar Oaks triumph

DEL MAR » There's little doubt who the top female turf horse is this meet after heavily-favored Anisette, trained by Leonard Powell, toyed with the field in Saturday's $300,000 Grade I Del Mar Oaks.

Given an expert railskimming ride in the stretch by Umberto Rispoli, Anisette came charging home to beat the other nine 3-year-old fillies by 23/4 lengths. It would have been more if the race had been longer.

Anisette, who never raced on turf in her three starts in Great Britain, showed her 21/2-length victory in the Grade II San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar on July 22 was no fluke. She was sent off as the 4-5 favorite and ran the 1 1/8 miles on the grass in 1:48.15.

Rispoli said that riding the best filly made his job easier.

“I knew I was on the best filly and that helped me ride her that way,” he said. “I thought about going outside and I knew the pace wasn't in my favor (23.84, 47.21 and 1:11.92). But then things opened a bit inside and I went.

“They tell me I ride like Fernando Toro did (Toro was presented his Hall of Fame plaque and jacket in a winner's circle ceremony after the seventh race). I know what that means. It's a great honor.”

Last after the first 6 furlongs, Rispoli had Anisette moving by the head of the stretch, moved to the inside and drew clear in the final sixteenth of a mile as pacesetter Ruby Nell faded to fourth. Be Your Best closed from sixth to finish second, a neck in front of Impact Warrior.

Once Anisette got rolling, the race was for second place.

“Her turn of foot made the difference at the top of the lane,” Powell said. “I didn't think we'd be so far back (she rallied from 10th in the 14-horse San Clemente), especially with a half mile in 47 (seconds), but she was good enough to overcome that and close ground. He (Rispoli) kept his cool. We got a dream run on the rail and he had the horse to do it. She's the goods.”

It was Rispoli's fifth stakes victory of the meet, his first in the Del Mar Oaks and 23rd overall at the seaside track.

For Powell, it was his second victory in the Oaks after saddling Fatale Bere for the 2018 edition. It was his third stakes victory this meet and 11th overall at Del Mar.

Rispoli, second in the jockey standings behind Juan Hernandez (24-20), enjoyed a riding triple Saturday.

In addition to Anisette, he also won the second with the Richard Mandella-trained Seal Team and the 10th for trainer Philip D'Amato with Tio Magico.

Racing will resume Thursday after Sunday's 10-race card was canceled because of Tropical Storm Hilary.